In a letter to the editor, Hoboken Democratic Committee executive board member and Planning Board Commissioner Matthew Hayden details why he’ll be voting for Marla Decker in the 2nd Ward council race.
Dear Editor,
I wanted to pen a letter to the community in the Second Ward in support of my friend, mentor, and candidate, Marla Decker.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Marla for almost two years, but in that short time, I’ve grown to admire her intelligence, drive, and compassion. Those traits were on display when I first met Marla in early 2022—under candidly tough personal circumstances.
It was in early 2022 that Russia began its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. While you wouldn’t know it from my last name—courtesy of my Irish father, Michael Hayden of South Orange, NJ—I am half-Ukrainian.
My mother and her family came to America to escape the violence that is unfortunately paralleled in today’s Ukraine. Being Ukrainian is extremely important to my identity, and I was, am, and always will be, deeply proud of my Ukrainian heritage.
In March of 2022, I stood on the steps of City Hall and delivered a speech about my family’s history and brought to light the horrors of the Russian invasion of my country of ancestry.
This was the day I met Marla, who also spoke at City Hall that day and outlined her great work for Rent for Refugees.
I was so thankful for Marla’s work and to see how she tapped into Hoboken’s generosity by coordinating the program between the Mayor’s Offices in Hoboken and Bialystok (a town in Poland receiving Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the invasion).
Marla held several fundraisers, including a lemonade stand fundraiser and the “Bagels to Bialys” donation effort in coordination with our amazing Hoboken bagel shops (O’Bagels is my go-to, although you probably weren’t wondering).
In all, Marla helped over $40,000, which went directly to housing refugees. I will always be deeply thankful to Marla for her work for Ukraine.
Despite not having Ukrainian lineage, Marla stepped up when she saw others in need, and to me, that is a testament to her character and who she is.
Since then, I’ve gotten to know Marla through various other engagements and activities in Hoboken.
I have the pleasure of serving alongside her on the leadership of the Hoboken Democratic Committee and continually see her bringing creativity, leadership, and, most importantly, commitment to the betterment of the city of Hoboken.
I know Marla will bring these great traits to the Second Ward because she has continually shown her commitment to serving not only our great community but other communities in need.
I’ll be proud to vote for her in November, and I hope you will do the same.
Matthew Hayden
Hoboken 2nd Ward resident
Oh come on kid
You lived here a minute
Uncle got you on the planning board and now you are a concerned resident ?
Maybe uncle Joe will rep Ravi if he goes down
Bagels???? Really??? How may bagels did she sell or did she sell other things??
It is a given if Ravi Bhalla appoints you to one of his Hoboken Boards to pad your resume, you are expected to rubber stamp any of his other political appointees when he runs them for office.
That’s how Ravi rolls. Shoot, you can have other jobs like Ravi but just follow orders. That makes the council work easy. Rubberstamp and roll!
Tsk tsk
Not the Haydens of South Hampton and Manhattan or Darien ?
“ Michael Hayden of South Orange”
Wonder if he gets a discounted rent at The Shipyard since his uncle Joe Hayden defended the Barry’s as a defense attorney
A Monarch sympathizing and NY Waterway defender probably too
Insurrection happening at the Capitol now by the Hamas-loving Dems. No arrests reported. Will they use face recognition software to arrest and send them to prison for 10-20 years? Where are the federal officers and SWAT teams?
https://twitter.com/EricSpracklen/status/1714716410574786647